Magneto-electric railway-stgnal



(Nd Model.

W. W. GARY.

v MAGNE'TO ELECTRIC RAILWAY SIGNAL. No. 291.590.

Patented Jan. 8, 1884;

N. PEIEHS. Phuwumo n her. washmgmn. D. c.

WESLEY, WARD GARY, on

, PATENT truce.

BOSTON, hJIASSACHUSETTS.

M AGNETQ-ELECTRIC RAlLWAY-Sl'GNAL.

I SPECIFICATTQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 291,590, datedJanuary 8, 188a.

' Application filed August18, 1361. (No model.)

biningwith a vibratory electric generator of 1 any suitable form a trainof gearing, and means whereby motion is imparted directlyor indirectlyto said gear-train by the passing train:

It is preferred to construct the apparatus in such manner that the.passing train shall elevate a weight or operate upon equivalent means-asa spring-whereby the train and generator may be operated after thepassage of the railway-train, the latter serving merely to set theapparatus for operation. This construction is preferred, for the reasonthat itpermits the signal to remain in operation after the train haspassed the generator, and that the apparatus is relieved from the severestrains and shocks to which it would otherwise be liable when acted uponby swiftly moving trains. The apparatus may, however, be constructed insuch manner that the rail way-train will imparta positive motion to thegear-train, and thence to the generator.

Attempts have been made to operate delicate railwaysignals by means of agenerator, consisting of a coiled armature vibrating in a magneticfield, the arrangement being such, however, that each car-wheel impartedbut a single'movement of the armature, so that the impulses were widelyseparated, and were not continued after the passage of the train. Myapparatus differs therefrom in the introduction of the gear-train orequivalent devices for multiplying the movement and causing thegenerator to operate rapidly and with a continuing motion, to produce arapid and long-continued succession of electrical impulses following oneanother in such manner as to give for signaling purposes a practicallyconstant current instead of the single isolated impulses produced in theold form of apparatus. The current produced by my generator i may beapplied in connection with an electromagnet for the positive action of abell or other suitable signal, for the movement or release of visualsignals, or otherwise applied, as may be desired. ,6 Referring to theaccompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my ap:paratus in one of the forms of which it is susceptible of embodiment, anelectromagnetic signal-bell being used in connection therewith andpropelled by means of the electric current. Fig. 2 is a top plan view ofthe same.

A represents one of the rails of a railway, and B alever pivoted at theside of the track, and provided at one end with an elongation,

i a, to. be acted upon by the passing car-wheels, which have the effectof depressing that end of the lever which lies next to the rail, andthereby elevating the opposite end.

0 represents the magneto-generator, which is operated or set for actionby means of the lever B. The "generator consists of the permanent magneta and a coiled armature, b, mounted on oneend of a lever, d, andarranged to vibrate to and from the permanent magnet. The lever d isprovided with an upright arm,

e, slotted to receive an operating eccentric, f, which latter is mountedon a shaft provided with a pinion, 9, arranged to gear intoadriving-wheel, h. The shalt of the wheel h is provided with a ratchetwheel, i, and with a weighted lever, 7', bearing a pawl, k, whichengages in the ratchet-wheel during the descent of the lever, as shown.When the tracklever B is acted upon by the car-wheels, its rear endelevates the weighted ratchet-lever j, thereby setting'the generator inposition to act. After the passage of the train the tracklever resumesits original position, permitting the descent of the weighted lever j,which, through its pawl, communicates motion to the ratchet-wheel, andthence, through the intermediate gearing, to the eccentric f, which inturn causes a rapid and long-continuedvibratory motion to be imparted tothe armature.

The vibration of the armature causes the development of a current ofelectricity through the conducting-wires,which may be connected with thesignaling mechanism of any suitable character.

The signal represented in the drawings consists, simply, of anelectro-magnet, an, arranged to attract an armature attached to one endof a lever, 12, having a bell hammer or striker at the opposite end. Aspiral spring, 0, serves to retract the hammer and hold the armaturenormally away from the magnet. A bell or gong, p, is arranged inposition to be struck by the hammer when the magnet attracts thearmature. If the wire be carried directly from the armature b to thesignal without the intervention of a commutator, the impulses ofelectricity alternating in polarity will cause the electro-magnet tooperate the striker of the signal with great rapidity. If, however, itis desired to make use of a continuous current of unchanging polarity, acommutator, E, may be connected with the generatorin the mannerrepresented in Fig. l, or in any other convenient manner.

The commutator represented in the drawings consists of twoconductingfingers ar ranged to move over three conducting-plates, thefingers being attached to and moved by a forked pivoted plate acted uponby the rear end 'of the lever cl, as shown. The construction of thiscommutator is identical with that represented in my Patent No. 190,206,May 1, 1877, to whichreference is made for a detailed descriptionthereof.

It is manifest that the number of wheels employed in the gear-train maybe increased at will, in order to cause the weight to continue theoperation of the generator for any length of time that may be required.

If it be desired to have the generator operated continuously from therailway-trains, it is only necessary to omit the ratchet-wheel andsecure the arm j rigidly to the shaft of the wheel h, which may be doneby means of a key, 0, as represented in dotted lines in Fig. 1,

I claim is 1. The combination of a vibratory magnetoelectric generator,a train of gear connected therewith, and an operating-lever connected atone end to the driving-gear, and arranged with its opposite end inposition to be depressed by passing railway-trains.

2. In a railway signal system, the combination of a bell-signal, anelectro-magnet, by means of which the signal is propelled or driven, avibratory magneto-generator connected therewith, and actuatingappliances, substantially such as shown,to be set for action by passingrailway-trains.

3. The combination of the railway-signal having an electro-magnet,whereby it is propelled, a vibratory magneto-generator connected withsaid magnet, and appliances, substantially as shown, to be set foraction by passing trains, and to drive the generator with along-continuing action.

4:. In combination Withavibratory magnetogenerator, a gear-train foractuating the same, and track-connections, substantially as described,whereby the gear-train may be set in motion by passing railway-trains.

5. Incombination with the magnets, the vibratory armature, the eccentricfor actuating said armature, and the gear-train provided with anopel'atingweight, as described, whereby arapid and long-continuingvibration of the armature may be secured.

6. In combination with the vibratory magneto-generator, the gear-train,and the trackconnections for operating said train, the electromagneticsignal, and the commutator, arranged substant-ially as described.

XVESLEY VAR-D GARY.

IVitnesses:

O. K. FAY, F. O. KELLY.

